Hu Ban commanded the people to clean out the study and bedroom first.

After buckets of well water were washed, the ground finally returned to its original color. Dust and filth such as rat droppings flowed down the sink under the eaves. All the doors and windows were opened, and the cold air poured in, sweeping away the original damp and rotten smell in the room.

However, if you want to move in immediately, I'm afraid it's not possible.

In the wing, Feng Chao cried bitterly.

"I don't want to be a thief, I have to do it."

Deng Ji asked, "What do you mean by having to do it as a last resort?" ”

Feng Chao listened to Deng Ji's inquiry, and tears fell like rain.

It turned out that more than two years ago, Feng Chao's father, Feng Zhan, was originally a staff member of Mu Taoqian in Xuzhou. At that time, Xuzhou was not as chaotic as it is now, and the problem of Haixi County became Tao Qian's confidant. Although this Haixi County is located in a remote area, it is also a salt road hub connecting the two Huai regions. Due to the chaos in Haixi County, the Lianghuai Salt Road was blocked, and the local wealthy clans controlled it, which caused a great loss of salt tax in Xuzhou. Tao Qian wanted to rectify Haixi, so he recommended Feng Zhan to the imperial court in Chang'an at that time as the Haixi Order.

Since Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an, he has also been trying to repair the relationship with the Kwantung princes and divide the power of the Kwantung princes. Therefore, Tao Qian easily got the appointment of the imperial court, and Feng Zhan took the imperial edict and went to Haixi to take up his post.

Feng Zhan is a very serious and conscientious person.

As soon as he took office, he began to rectify the chaotic situation in Haixi County.

It's just that Feng Zhan is too vigorous and resolute, so that he has touched the interests of many people.

Two months after his arrival, a group of thieves suddenly attacked Hercy. Feng Zhan hurriedly responded to the battle, but he was killed by thieves, and his body was hung on the lintel of the reception hall outside Haixi County, and it took three days before he was found. Feng Chao was the history of Cao Peng in Haixi County at the time, and when he learned the news, he was furious. But those thieves came and went without a trace, and he didn't know how to take revenge.

I wanted to pass Tao Qian, but I didn't want that this year, Tao Qian's department would kill Cao Song.

Cao Ying avenged his father and waved his troops to attack Xuzhou...... Tao Qian faced Cao Ying's soldiers coming to the city, where could he still take care of the affairs of Haixi?

Soon, Cao Ying had to collect his troops and return because Lü Bu captured Puyang. Tao Qian then fell ill and entrusted Xuzhou to Liu Bei before his death.

Speaking of Liu Bei, Feng Chao suddenly gritted his teeth.

"General Zhendong doesn't care?"

"Hutina thief!"

Feng Chao roared angrily, "Liu Xuande, national thief!" ”

When Cao Peng heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned.

Influenced by "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Cao Peng's impression of Liu Bei is, on the whole, not too bad. In his memory, Liu Bei should be a gentle and elegant elder. Even if he lost a lot of love for Liu Bei later, after being reborn, he found that Liu Bei was not as famous as later generations had rumored. Sima Hui praised Liu Bei for having great ambitions; Guo Jia thinks that Liu Bei is a hypocrite.

There are different opinions about this version.

But the saying of 'national thief', Cao Peng heard it for the first time.

I couldn't help but wonder in my heart, but Cao Peng didn't rush to ask, but sat aside and listened quietly.

"Feng Chao, where did this 'national thief' come from?"

"Do you know that there are 'three evils' in this Haixi?"

Deng Ji really hadn't heard this kind of statement, and hurriedly asked, "I want to hear about it." ”

"Pirates, salt lords, merchant beetles." Feng Chao took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions, "The pirate is the Guangling Great Thief Xue Zhou's department. He had 10,000 people under his command and several sea ships, entrenched on overseas desert islands, landing and raiding villages and towns. Moreover, the strength of Xuezhou's department is extremely strong, and it is connected with many bandits on land, so there is no trace, there is no trace, and it cannot be eliminated at all...... After my father took office, he carefully studied Xue Zhou, and told me in private that it was difficult to be a thief, and it was even more difficult to be a pirate. Their whereabouts are strange, they can enter the mountains and retreat into the sea. Moreover, no one knows the place of landing, and if you want to eliminate the bandits of Xue Zhou, you must have enough patience. ”

When Deng Ji heard this, his brows furrowed.

"What about the salt owl?" Pu Yanghong asked.

"Do you know who is the biggest smuggler in the East China Sea?"

"Uh...... I don't really know. ”

"It's the Elk family in Qu County."

"Qu County, Elk's family?"

Feng Chao nodded, "The Haiqu Elk family, the leading wealthy family in Xuzhou.

The ancestors of the elk family are inherited, with assets of hundreds of millions and tens of thousands of customers...... Outside, people only know that the elk family is in the business world, but they don't know that this elk family has secretly sold illicit salt since Guangwu, and almost controlled the two Huai and even the illegal salt in the Jiangdong region. They boiled the sea in Qushan, colluded with officials, and sold illicit salt, and they had a huge influence in Xuzhou. Even Tao Gongzu is afraid of the Elk family.

Haixi is an important place for the elk family to sell illicit salt into the two Huai, so in Haixi County, the elk family can be called a hegemon.

After Liu Bei took over Xuzhou, Lu Zhu, the head of the Elk family, advanced his sister Yu Liu Xuande, and then gave 2,000 slaves and countless gold and silver currencies, helping Liu Bei gain a firm foothold in Xuzhou. After Lu Bu captured Xuzhou, he took Liu Bei's family captive, and later had to return Liu Bei. Among them, the maneuvering of the elk family played an important role. You say, Liu Bei is so close to the Elk family, how can he do something to the Elk family? ”

Deng Ji gasped, glanced at Pu Yanghong, and couldn't help but look at each other.

It's really not there, I don't know the harm.

If you are not a local, who would know that there are so many twists and turns in this?

Cao Peng more or less figured out why Feng Chao had a grudge against Liu Bei...... Could it be that Feng Zhan's death is related to the Elk family?

"What is a merchant beetle?"

"It's the Jia people in this Haixi county."

In ancient times, acting as a businessman, sitting as a businessman, and being connected together was a businessman.

"Jia people, there have been them since ancient times, how can they be considered a harm?"

"If they do business honestly, it won't do any harm. But most of the Jia people in Haixi County are some bullies who dominate the market and do evil.

For example, in the first year of Xingping, Cao Ying attacked Xuzhou.

The Haisija people took the lead in stockpiling grain, which caused prices to skyrocket. At that time, many refugees from Tokai and other places came...... Those Jia people took their young and strong men as thugs, dominated the commercial market, and raised the price of grain. In ten days, it soared from 100 yuan to 21,000 yuan per coarse millet. When they came out to quarrel with them, the merchants called in their thugs and beat them up. What's more, destroying their homes and destroying their lives. And the government can only sit idly by, helpless against these merchants. If the crackdown is severe, they will join forces to strike the market. ”

The more excited Feng Chaoyue said, the more he almost roared out in the end.

"Who dares to provoke such a domineering?

And behind these business beetles, there are people who secretly support them. Someone once sued Xiapi, but within two days he was dead in the market...... The villain also read books when he was young and understood that this is the truth of right and wrong, good and evil, but what about the villain?

My father formed a patrol of 100 people, and was forced to disband in less than half a year. In Haixi County, everyone has no way out, don't be a thief, what to do? ”

Deng Ji and Pu Yang Min were silent!

Cao Peng sighed and stood up.

"Feng Chao, you are a thief, you want to avenge your father Feng Xianling."

"Huh?"

"Feng Xianling died at the hands of bandits, but you don't know who to seek revenge.

So, you pretend to be a strongman and wander among the mountains. You want to use this method to get close to the bandits and ask for news, right? ”

Feng Chao didn't answer, but lowered his head.

Cao Peng suddenly scolded sharply: "But have you ever thought about what the crimes of those businessmen and passers-by who were killed by you are?" ”

"I didn't kill anyone, I only grabbed things."

"But if you rob them of their things, you will cut off their surnames!" Cao Peng angrily reprimanded: "Not everyone is a Moose family, and not everyone is rich. Those businessmen may use their net worth to escort a batch of goods, and they make hard-earned money and hard-earned money! But you snatched their goods, have you ever wondered what they will do? What about their families? ”

"I ......"

Feng Chao opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to argue.

"He who is the son of man avenges his father, and it is only right. But if you base your desire for revenge on the suffering of others, what are you? You've taken your revenge, you're happy...... But who should those who have lost their possessions and died of despair? Shall their sons also be robbers, and imitate your ways? Retribution for injustice, Haixi County became more and more chaotic...... Let me ask you again, what is the sin of those Haixi people who have been implicated in this? Why would they want to get caught up in this maelstrom of hatred for your own sake? Everyone acts like you, where is the majesty of the court? Where is the authority of the law? ”

Feng Chao was speechless and lowered his head...... Cao Peng snorted, flicked his sleeves and walked out.

Pu Yang Min sighed, stepped forward and patted Feng Chao on the shoulder, and walked out of the room.

Deng Ji looked at Feng Chao, "Feng Chao, you are eager to avenge your father, and this official can understand." But I still hope that you can solve this matter in the right way. Gathering people like you as a thief, if Feng Xian Ling is aware of it, I am afraid that he will not be able to turn a blind eye...... You're confused, confused! ”

With that, Deng Ji waved his hand at Wang Mai and Deng Fan, turned around and walked out of the room.

Wang Mai Deng Fan also let go of Feng Chao, there was a trace of pity in his eyes, and he was a little contemptuous, and walked out with Deng Ji...... "Brother-in-law, just don't care about him?" ”

"Let him think about it."

Deng Ji said softly: "We first came to Haixi, and there was obviously a shortage of manpower. This Feng Chao can gather so many people, which shows that he still has a little prestige. If he is willing to help us, it may be possible for us to integrate into the environment of Haixi as soon as possible and gain a firm foothold. ”

On the other side, Pu Yang Min looked at Cao Peng with a smile.

"Youxue, will you be safe?"

Cao Peng shook his head, "What's the trick."

It's just that I really didn't expect that this Haixi County would be so complicated...... Pirates, Salt Barons...... And those merchant beetles? ”

In "Five Worms", Han Feizi listed Shangjia as one of the five beetles.

Presumably, this is where the merchant beetle comes from.

Moose family!

Liu Bei...... Hah, it seems to be getting more and more complicated and interesting!

Elk Zhu is highly regarded in history, and even Cao Ying, who also admires Elk Zhu.

However, no one expected that this elk Zhu was actually born as a smuggler of salt.

Then after the death of Mrs. Mi, Guan Yu seemed to have contempt for the Elk family, and did not think about the relationship between the Elk family and Liu Bei at all, which became reasonable...... No matter how much the Elk family helped Liu Bei, even if Elk Zhu had great merit, when it came to his background, he was still a smuggler of salt.

"Ah Fu, accompany me to the internal office to check the case."

Deng Ji said, and went to the inner office.

Cao Peng took the torch from Deng Fan's hand and instructed softly: "Fifth brother, first pack up briefly, settle down, and talk about it tomorrow." ”

"Good!"

Cao Peng nodded, held the torch, and walked side by side with Puyang Min to the inner office.

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(To be continued)